Signal means for basketball baskets



April 22, 1952 A. c. HOLMDAHL SIGNAL MEANS FOR BASKETBALL BASKETS Filed July 29, 1948 JNVENTOR. flriizzr fZ/alvzdai.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 SIGNAL MEANS FOR BASKETBALL'BASKETS Arthur Carl Holmdahl, Kellogg, Iowa, assignorto MidwestMetal Stamping 00., Kellogg, -Iowa,- a

corporation of Iowa Application July 29, 1948,- Serial No;"41;s11

- 3 Claims.

*This invention relates to basketball game apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a basketball basket support of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basketball basket support which will rigidly support the basket hoop and which will prevent excessive lateral movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for ringing a gong or bell which automatically rings each time a ball passes through the basket.

With these and. other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the basketball basket support and gong-ringing apparatus;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged. perspective view of the bell-ringing apparatus.

Referring specifically to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, numeral I I designates any suitable support, such as a wall or backboard and numeral I2 indicates generally the hoop for a basket II). The hoop consists of a metal rod I3 which is bent into circular shape and terminates at both ends adjacent the backboard in downwardly extending portions M which are reversely bent upwardly, as shown at I5, and are again .reversely bent downwardly, as shown at IS.

A supporting plate I! is screwed to the backboard by two upper screws I8 and two lower screws IS. The upper screws I8 extend between reversely bent portions I5 and I6 of the hoop I2 and the lower screws I9 extend between the reversely bent portions I4 and I5 of the hoop. The screws preferably are positioned at the point of the respective bends. This provides a rigid support for the hoop portion I3, and since, a horifrom'theplate I'Ipwhichears Z Z'Su'pport a'hinge 'pin23' secured tothe paddle 2|. A' coilspring generally indicated at 24 is wound-around the hinge pin 23 and has a V-shaped portion 25 engaging the plate I! and has outwardly extending portions 26 engaging the underside of the paddle 2|, whereby the paddle 2| is normally biased upwardly.

The paddle 2| is punched out as shown at 21 to provide a latch member 28 extending upwardly and having a hook 29 formed therein. An angular surface 30 is provided on the upper portion of the latch 28.

A bell or gong is shown at 3| and is secured to the plate I! by any suitable means. The clapper for the bell 3| is shown at 32 and is supported on a horizontally extending portion 33 of the coil spring 34. The spring 34 is secured to the plate I! by a strap 35. As best shown in Figure 3, the extension 33 of spring 34 normally extends within the hook portion 29 of the latch 28. As the ball passes through the hoop I3 in basket I8, it depresses the paddle 2| sufficiently that the latch 28 swings about the hinge pin 23 and slides over the extension 33 of coil spring 34, thus releasing the energy in the coil spring 34 and permitting the gong 32 to strike the bell 3|. Obviously, the bell gives an audible signal each time a ball passes through the basket. As the ball passes through the basket III, the paddle 2| is again biased upwardly by a spring 24 and the angular surface 30 of latch 28 strikes the extension 33 and slides thereover so that the extension 33 is disposed beneath the hook 29 in position for again ringing the bell 3| when a ball passes through the basket II].

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved basketball game apparatus including a support for the basket and an audible signal device.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. Basketball game apparatus for mounting on a backboard or the like comprising a hoop, means for securing the hoop to said backboard, and means providing an audible signal each time a ball passes through saidhoop, said means comprising a bell, a clapper for said bel1,,a resilient support for said clapper, and hinged operating means for effecting striking of the clapper against said bell, said hinged operating means including at latch member which releases and reengages with said resilient support each time a ball passes through said hoop.

2. Basketball game apparatus for mounting on a backboard or the like comprising a hoop, means for securing the hoop to said backboard, means providing an audible signal each time a ball passes through said hoop, said means comprising a bell,

a clapper for said bell, a resilient support for said clapper, and hinged operating means for efiecting striking of the clapper against saidbell, said hinged operating means including a latch member which releases and reengages with said resilient support each time a ball passes through ball passes through said hoop, said means comprising a bell, a clapper for said bell, a resilient sup-port for said clapper, and hinged operating means for effecting striking of the clapper against said ,bell, said hinged operating means includi a latch member which releases and reengages with said resilient support each time a ball passes through said hoop, said latch member being formed from the material of said hinged operating means.

ARTHUR CARL HOLMDAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

